"Hands Up" is a song recorded by Japanese boy group NCT Wish, the Japanese-based unit of boy group NCT, who were then promoting as NCT New Team. It was released as the group's pre-debut single digitally on October 8, 2023, and was released physically on December 20, 2023, to support the group's pre-debut showcase tour in late 2023 ahead of their debut in 2024. The single additionally contains the B-side track "We Go!". A music video for "Hands Up" was released on October 19.[1]
Background and release
On February 3, 2023, SM Entertainment revealed plans to debut a Japanese unit for NCT, then dubbed NCT Tokyo, to debut later in the year.[2] The official lineup, put together via the reality show NCT: Lastart, was revealed on September 7, 2023, as NCT New Team.[3]
The group held their first performance on September 9 and 10 as the opening act for NCT at NCT Nation: To the World, where they debuted the song "Hands Up."[4] In October 2023, it was announced that the group would be releasing a pre-debut single on October 8, consisting of the songs "Hands Up" and "We Go."[1][5]
A Korean version of the song was later included as the seventh track of the group's first EP Steady, released on September 24, 2024.[6]
Promotion
On the day of the album's release, the group began a pre-debut tour, which consisted of 28 performances across 10 cities in Japan.[7][8]
^Seon, Mi-kyung (September 2, 2024). "NCT WISH, 24일 첫 미니앨범 'Steady' 발매..역대급 컴백 온다" [NCT Wish, first mini album 'Steady' to be released on the 24th.. Greatest comeback ever] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024 – via Naver.
